Both Mercado and Ty, who are allied with ousted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, have joined the minority under ABS partylist Rep. Eugene de Vera.

The issue on the composition of the minority in the lower chamber remains unresolved as plenary debates ensued on the matter during Monday's session.

The three factions coveting the opposition bloc are the following: Alvarez' allies; the Liberal Party lawmakers who abstained voting for Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez' group, which seeks to retain their minority status despite 14 of its 17 members voted for Arroyo as Speaker. (PNA)

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